Spring 2017 Student Spotlight

synapse: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine

From Montana to Emergency Medicine

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Cicero Running Crane, president of the Class of 2017, matched into emergency medicine at the University of Kentucky, and looks forward to helping those patients who can least afford it during his residency. Photo by Anne McMillin, APR.

From Montana to the Marine Corps to medicine. That’s the path of Cicero Running Crane, president of the Class of 2017.

Growing up in Billings, Montana, he spent summers on his grandfather’s cattle ranch. While serving as a U.S. Marine Corps reserve radio operator for an artillery battery in Aurora, Colorado, he enrolled at the University of Colorado, Boulder. There he was awarded a ROTC scholarship and joined the Marines because he wanted to make a difference in the lives of others.

As a commissioned artillery officer, he spent the next seven years serving his country across the globe in Afghanistan, the western Pacific and Africa. Although very proud of the work he did with the Marines, Running Crane found himself at a career crossroads and decided to look beyond the military to fulfill his goal of making a difference and helping others.

“While with the Marines, I saw a little girl whose life was saved by U.S. military surgeons. She survived and I was struck by the fact that those doctors made a difference in her life, and I liked that,” he explained.

His next step was to apply to western U.S. medical schools, including the University of Nevada, Reno.

“What attracted me to Nevada was the competitive and diverse match results; not all medical schools can say that. Our graduates go everywhere, so that gave me options,” he said.

His experiences in the Marine Corps taught Running Crane that a rush of adrenaline, the fast-paced decision-making skills and the pressure were where he thrived, so in looking at the medical specialties, he focused on emergency medicine, where he could duplicate that setting.

“I like the work they do in the emergency room. It is the last and only option for some. I can provide care for those who need it most and those who can least afford it,” he said.

I see each patient as a human and treat them equally regardless. By making that connection, I can provide a better level of care, even in a short amount of time.

“I see each patient as a human and treat them equally regardless. By making that connection, I can provide a better level of care, even in a short amount of time.”

Running Crane has seen his inquisitiveness as a medical student pay off for the benefit of patients. In one case, he insisted on additional tests that may have saved the patient’s life. Another time, he caught a condition that previously had been missed on morning rounds.

While caring for patients is truly rewarding, he also points to the friendships he made at UNR Med as one of the highlights of his career thus far in medicine.

“Since our class size is so small, it has been easy to get to know everyone over these four years. You develop those relationships; you talk to, know and depend on them. I will stay in touch with many of my classmates.”

Running Crane has great things to say about UNR Med, pointing out the well-rounded cadre of physicians the school produces year after year.

“It shows in our away rotations, in our residency matches and beyond. The Class of 2017 will be the same.”